It’s 2018 and we’re off for another adventure. All packed, with only one suitcase between two of us this time and one carry on. Got the art of packing sorted. Out the door, walk to tram, transfer to train, exit to international terminal. And that’s where the fun stops, almost. Transiting through security is so smooth now, no forms to fill out. Flying Emerites for first time. Very impressed. Staff great, seats comfortable. But nothing and no-one will convince me that 21 hours in the air, plus plane change on the way is in anyway comfortable. Plane travel just isn’t for me. I like to look out the window and see scenery. But we will live in the great southern continent, cut off from the rest of the world. Growing up in the best country in the world does have one or two draw backs.
Landed in London on bright clear day, albiet a bit chilly, hopped Piccadilly line on local train to Barens Court. Checked into our W14 Hotel in Kensington which is a combination of three Georgian terraced houses renovated into a modern hotel, but still contained our first reminder of the age of buildings in UK. Small steep stairs and no lift. So as we dragged our suitcase up from ground floor to our room on second floor I took a mental note to check out this problem with our other accommodation.
As we had spent sufficient time in London before we chose to forgo the requesit ‘must do’s’ in London. Day one we went to Camden Markets, hopped a narrow boat and took a leisurely trip up the river to Little Venice and back. A little reminder of the many many canals wriggling their way around London, once the main form of transporting goods to London Dock.
Day two with another sunny day saw us hopping the District Line to Kew Gardens to check out the newly reopened Temperate Pavillian which has been under renovation for the last five years. This glorious structure, designed by Decimus Burton and opened for the first time in 1863, has been stripped out, stripped down to bare metal, reglazed, repainted and now replanted with 1,500 plant species from the temperate regions of the world which includes Australia and New Zealand.

It’s our last day in London so was very pleased to spend it relaxing, rather than the usual ‘hitting the ground running’.

The gardens themselves were a picture of new season growth and blossoms and plenty of wildlife.

Met up with a squirrell who thought I was bringing him lunch and a peacock who thought that he could hide amoungst the bluebells.

All said and done it was just what I needed after waking up with the a heavy cold. No suprise after being stuck in a tin can full of coughing passengers and and screaming kids for hours on end.